[Elysia POV]
It is the same feeling I felt when I awakened the powers of my blessing...
The thought surfaced suddenly as her hazy awareness returned, pulling her out of the trance-like state.
No... it is not the same... it is somewhat different...
She could not put a name to it, but she felt undeniably stronger, her mana brimming like a rising tide. It was not that she had advanced to the next rank, nor that her stats had increased. And yet, without either of those, her very being felt sharpened, refined, as if some hidden strength had quietly awakened within her.
Her eyes opened slowly, catching the pale moonlight that spilled across her form. Tonight, it seemed brighter than ever, wrapping her in a soft glow that seeped deep into her soul. When she lifted her gaze to the moon itself, she felt a strange comfort wash over her.
It was gentle, warm, and safe—like an embrace she had never known.
Though she had never once felt a mother’s love in either of her lives, this... this was the closest she could imagine.
I think I know what this is...
She clenched her hands tightly, feeling raw power coursing through her veins. Her moon mana swirled within her, thicker and purer than ordinary mana, its potency undeniable.
I gained an overall boost in my strength... and I feel free...
The power she had awakened was not a permanent transformation but a conditional blessing, one that allowed her to tap into the hidden essence of the Moon.
As long as the moon shone above in the night sky, she would gain a surge of strength. Her stats would rise, her moon essence would strike harder, and the soul-attacking properties of her power would sharpen to an even deadlier edge.
It did not stop there. Smaller boosts layered upon her as well—flexibility, reflexes, heightened senses, all coming together to form a power that was greater than the sum of its parts.
And speaking of senses... she could feel someone nearby.
Instructor...?
Her perception had expanded without her realizing it, spreading outward in a soft sphere of awareness. Though limited in range—perhaps ten meters at most—it was enough for her to discern the figure standing behind her without even turning around.
"You are quite strange," came a calm, steady voice. "Awakening the powers of your blessing so suddenly? Did something happen? From what I know, the Moon’s blessing is not awakened through ordinary means. Only by experiencing something deeply personal, something different for each person, can its power emerge."
The familiar tone made her heart skip.
Vice Principal Elva.
"Instructor Elva, Ash..."
Elysia turned quickly, her words spilling out in a rush. She told her everything—about the attack, about Ash’s instructions, about what she had witnessed before slipping into her trance. Ash had told her to wait, to trust him, but she could not. How could she simply stand aside when he was out there, fighting alone?
Now that she had awakened this sudden strength, she could no longer ignore it. Even if she faced someone at the level of Mythical Rank, she would not waste the opportunity.
As Elva listened, her expression grew colder, her thoughts swirling without pause. She knew how capable Ash was. After all, he had cleared a dangerous military zone deep in the untamed forest as nothing more than an assessment test for his semester exams.
But if Ash had acted this way, choosing to drop Elysia somewhere safe before fighting, then her instincts told her the enemies were either too many in number or powerful enough to force his caution.
What she did not know was that Ash was simply a complete paranoid. When he left Elysia behind, even he had no idea how many enemies there were. It had been nothing more than one of his safety measures, not something based on certainty.
There was also the troubling matter of how Ash had been able to leave so peacefully while enemies were present. That was not something she could easily ignore. If she wanted the truth, she would need to go and see the place for herself.
She placed her hand firmly on Elysia’s shoulder, her grip steady, and her tone quiet but filled with urgency.
"Just tell me the location and..."
But before she could finish, and before Elysia could even form the words to point out where Ash had gone, the air shifted.
And a presence appeared close to them, silent as a shadow.
****
A few moments ago...
"Is there a tracker on it....?"
Ash muttered as he stood on the top of the same building where he had just fought with Roan, though this time it was the actual place and not the isolated space.
In his hands was the cuboidal artifact, the same one that had created that isolated dimension. He was wondering if there was some sort of tracker hidden within it, since it was entirely possible that the organization which was behind the assassination had prepared such countermeasures in advance. If their artifacts were lost or the assassin died, a tracker would allow them to retrieve it sooner or later.
He turned it around and inspected it, thinking and analyzing carefully, but after some time he could not understand a single thing. With no clue to be found, he finally tossed the artifact into his Soul Vault.
Whatever, I will think about it later...
Without wasting any more time, he instantly teleported away.
The moment he appeared at the spot where he had left Elysia, he immediately noticed that she was still there. She did not heed his words to enter the hall, but she was also not alone; someone else was standing with her.
Instructor Elva...?
He did not get the chance to think much about it, because the next instant, a sudden force struck him.
Elysia had rushed into him and hugged him tightly, without uttering a word. The condition of his clothes told her everything she needed to know. His attire was stained with blood, torn in several places, and there was even a hole near his chest where his skin was clearly visible.
Yet apart from the blood, there was not a single wound left behind. That was natural, considering the kind of powers Ash possessed.
Elysia did not bother asking him whether he was alright. She already knew the answer he would give, and it would not be the truth. So instead, she simply held him, clinging to him with all her strength, her silence carrying more weight than any words could.
Sometimes it is not questions or reassurances that help, but a simple gesture can do more than one can imagine. A hug alone could convey emotions and comfort that hours of talk may fail to bring.
But while Elysia held onto him, Ash’s thoughts were moving elsewhere.
What the hell...? How was the impact this powerful...?
It was not that she had pushed him back; the strength was nowhere near enough to do that, but the impact still shocked him, making his lungs tighten for a brief moment.
Did she awaken her powers even more...?
That was the only possibility that made sense to him. He could always confirm it later, but right now his attention shifted to Instructor Elva, who was standing silently nearby.
He gently calmed Elysia, loosening her grip so she could breathe more easily, and then turned toward Elva. She was watching him with an expression that was completely impassive. The cheerful personality she sometimes displayed was nowhere to be seen. In fact, she rarely acted that way in front of Ash.
Most of the time, their interactions carried this same tone, her being neutral and unreadable, showing no more emotion than necessary. Only on rare occasions did she reveal genuine concern.
"How many..?"
Elva asked the question as casually as if she were asking how much food he had eaten.
Ash’s lips twitched slightly, but he replied in a short tone. "One."
Her brows arched faintly, and she continued, her voice steady. "Which Rank?"
"Grandmaster. And I also found something among his belongings. Do you recognize this symbol, or know which organization it belongs to?" Ash said, giving his answer about the enemy’s rank while shifting the topic to something else at the same time.
Elva glanced at Ash for a brief moment, then turned her attention to the badge he was holding out to her. It was unusual, carrying a design that did not resemble any common insignia. The front bore the mark of a half-closed violet door, carved into the black metal with precision, while the back carried five golden stars lined neatly together.
After studying it closely, she shook her head. "Even I do not know. I do not keep records of every organization in the world. There are specific people assigned for that task. But let me borrow this for a while. I will find out which group it belongs to and tell you when I learn the answer."
Ash nodded. "Yeah, alright. That is fine by me. I was already planning to let you handle it. Now, if you will excuse us, Miss Elva, I will be returning home. With clothes like these, I have no desire to enter the party, and to be honest, I had no mood to attend it from the beginning anyway."
He shifted his vision toward the great hall’s entrance, his tone quieter as he muttered a last request. "Please also tell the host of the event, Saint Lucan, about the assassination attempt on me, the reason I was late today, and why I did not attend the celebration party."
Before Elva could say anything, Ash quickly took Elysia with him and disappeared, teleporting away before she could give a single reply.
He did not want any more conversation with her. His behavior might have seemed a little rude, but it could easily be dismissed as nothing more than the attitude of a child.
Elva’s gaze lingered for a moment on the spot where Ash had been standing just a heartbeat ago. Silence stretched between her and the empty air, before she let out a quiet sigh.
Tilting her head upward, she looked at the moon, its pale light casting a gentle glow over the courtyard. Then, without another word, she turned around and walked away, her figure soon disappearing into the night.
***